Portland Thorns coach Paul Riley wanted to see an attacking display from his team Saturday night and that’s exactly what he got.

The Thorns attacked and pressured FC Kansas City en route to a 3-1 win in their home opener in front of a crowd of 14,124 at Providence Park.

“We wanted to start with a win,” Riley said. “Last year we didn’t win a ton of games at home. I told the players that this has got to be a place that nobody wants to come. It was almost psychological warfare over the last seven weeks basically committing our team to saying, ‘no one is getting points here.’”

Thorns forward Jessica McDonald scored the go-ahead goal in the 84th minute when she got on the end of a pass from Christine Sinclair and drilled a shot into the corner of the net.

McDonald then scored again four minutes later, sending a beautiful chip over Kansas City goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart to put the Thorns up 3-1 for good.

“She’s been brilliant for us,” Riley said. “Two great goals. I thought the second one was a beautiful goal. (Barnhart) isn’t easy to beat, especially up high, and she got her coming out. She’s been tremendous.”

The Thorns acquired McDonald in November in a trade that sent forward Danielle Foxhoven to the Seattle Reign. Riley had never met McDonald and wasn’t sure what role the forward would play in Portland’s already potent offense.

But McDonald had a strong preseason and earned her way into the starting lineup in place of injured star forward Alex Morgan. And McDonald definitely showed her worth Saturday night.

“You come into preseason and you have to prove that you belong on the field,” McDonald said. “That was my main focus, proving to Paul and the Portland Thorns organization in general that I can be on this field with these girls.”

Riley has emphasized a high-pressuring and attacking style of play since arriving in Portland this year and the Thorns were able to execute it Saturday.

The Thorns kept a high defensive line and bombarded Kansas City with 10 shots on goal and 20 crosses.

Still, the Thorns had trouble containing Kansas City and their high-pressuring style of play also left them vulnerable to the counter attack.

“Unfortunately, in our formation if you let them out you’re in trouble,” Riley said, “and they got out.”

Kansas City found an opening in the Thorns box on a counter attack in the 6th minute and sent a low drive from 10 yards out toward goal that Thorns goalkeeper Nadine Angerer stopped with a great diving save.

The Thorns’ back line held strong against Kansas City’s potent offense that includes Amy Rodriguez, who already has two goals this season, and Lauren Holiday, the 2013 NWSL MVP.

But the Thorns could not have won the match without Angerer. The 2013 FIFA women’s player of the year made six saves to preserve the win for the Thorns.

In the 27th minute, Kansas City midfielder Jen Buczkowski drilled a shot from the top of the box, but Angerer made an incredible diving save to knock it away. Buczkowski found another opening in the box in the 76th minute and dribbled toward goal, but Angerer came out to block the shot.

Angerer then knocked a shot from Kansas City midfielder Jenna Richmond over the net in the 78th minute.

“I’m totally focused on the ball and my team,” Angerer said. “For these 90 minutes I’m really concentrated and focused on the pitch.”

While the Thorns weren’t completely satisfied with their performance, McDonald said it was crucial for the Thorns to set the tone by getting three points in their home opener.

“We have to prove a point here because we are defending champions,” McDonald said. “Our main focus today was to get three points at home and that’s what it will be for the rest of the season—get three points at home.”